Meet ‘300’ Hero Sullivan Stapleton; Is He Hollywood’s Next Leading Man?

After300: Rise Of An Empire had an opening-week global gross of $136 million and resuscitated the franchise potential of a first film that ended with a bloody pile of 300 dead Spartans, the town is asking: who the heck is this Sullivan Stapleton, avenger of Spartans, scourge of Persians and the latest guy in town with a star look and a six-pack? And more importantly, when is he available to reinforce to Hollywood that he’s got the goods to become its next leading man?

I caught up with Stapleton as he was home in Melbourne, recuperating from a concussion suffered in Bangkok while he was there filming Strike Back, the Cinemax series he stars in with Philip Winchester. He has done barely any press. That knock on the head kept him from being able to fly, which knocked him out of the chance to do the tour for the 300 sequel. A few things about Stapleton: he’s Australian, and like most of the actors who grew up in the business there before coming to these shores, he’s got a working-class attitude and is not at all full of himself. When you speak to him, you call him Sully. He looks like an edgier version of Pierce Brosnan, and in an age where Hollywood continues to build franchises around young actors who’ve barely passed puberty, Stapleton is (gasp!) 36 years old and is the first new face to come along in the action game in awhile who actually looks like a man. Though he will the first to admit that getting older takes a toll.

“My head is good now, but I’ve been thinking I must be getting older, because I took a hit to the head that hurt a bit more than it did when I fell all the time when I was a kid,” he said. “It was an accident, my head hit the road, and they put me in a hospital in Bangkok and then I came here to my mom’s house for rest, relaxation and more tests. Unfortunately, it means that I couldn’t do the 300 tour, which was sad for me because I love that film. I am so thankful to the bosses at Warner Bros for giving me that job, and the guys from Strike Back who have allowed me time to get over this head wound. Obviously, that opening weekend helped the cause.”

Stapleton really had his “who’s that guy” moment in the David Michod-directed Aussie film Animal Kingdom, which launched Joel Edgerton, Jacki Weaver and Ben Mendelsohn. Stapleton shone as a member of that frightening crime clan, but they killed him off as he was just getting warmed up. Still, the impression stuck.

“I started here in Australia, playing a lot of roles but never the lead guy in shows here,” Stapleton told me. “I always tended to play the rougher guy, the criminal who gets caught or shot by the cops. Or the boyfriend from the wrong side of the tracks. I guess things happen when they are supposed to. I was acting, but I also got involved in building, and I also started gripping. There came a point where I said, OK, do I go into building or gripping full time, and give up this acting thing? And then that great film Animal Kingdom came along, and that was that. And that led to me getting on Gangster Squad, Strike Back happened, and that awesome 300 came along and things are going real well with that. And back home here, I’ve just done two movies in Kill Me Three Times and Cut Snake, that I’m real proud of.”

Stapleton said he will soon be able to re-start Strike Back and when he has completed his final season of that show, he will be available for Hollywood jobs starting in the fall. His reps at WME and Australian reps at United Management are handling the volume of sudden interest, but Stapleton is pretty unaffected by the attention. But not completely.

Said Stapleton, “Dude, I know you write articles, but are you a reader? Do you read Men’s Health? I’m on that cover, man. That’s how the world has changed for me. They said, do you want to be on this cover and I said, really? Me? I don’t work out every day.”

I’ve seen him in the guilty pleasure series Strike Back, where he seems to bed a gorgeous agent or nemesis in every episode. He looks way more aerobicized in 300. Does he, I ask, owe that six pack to 300‘s VFX wizards?

“Ah, yeah,” he laughs. “I’d be telling you a lie if I said that six-pack was CGI. I trained hard enough to find out that all of us actually have six-packs under there somewhere. I loved that first 300 and looking at Gerry Butler and all the guys who played Spartans, that was kind of a big incentive to work out.”

The Greek forces he led seemed like welterweights compared to their heavyweight Spartan countrymen, and Stapleton was surprised that the training stressed losing weight more than gaining it. “I thought the workout would be putting on a shitload of muscle, but the ancient Athenian Greeks were apparently skinnier than I imagined, so I had to lose weight more than anything. I was doing the show at the time when the trainer came to South Africa. So after 10 hours a day of shooting Strike Back, I did three hours of training. Half of that was in the gym with weights and an hour and a half with the swords. It was like being a grownup manly boy. I’d put down my gun after shooting at people all day in Strike Back, pick up the sword, and then it was all cutting and thrusting. At points, I would say, I’m an ancient Greek politician with no time to work out. Why am I eating just meat and fish, because I love food and red wine. But I just loved being in shape.”

Warner Bros seems to like Stapleton. After using him for a key role in Gangster Squad and now 300, the studio has a couple of options with the actor, one of which most certainly will be another 300 installment, as his Themistokles comes to an inevitable showdown with Persian god king Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro). Right now, Stapleton is focused on keeping his head from swelling, figuratively and literally, and slowly planning to test out the opportunity that a global hit will provide him.

“When the show’s done, I want to come over to the States, and meet some of those guys who might give me a job and have something else to talk about with guys like you,” he said. “I can see it has opened doors. As for the sequel, it’s a huge story, and those battles between the Greeks and Persians went on for years and years. I hope to God we do another sequel. If we don’t, hopefully they put me in another film. And did I say that I’m on the cover of Men’s Health?”

Me neither! I want a sequel with the battle of Plataea (shown at the end of the first ”300” movie) and more Greeks versus Persians battle scenes and Sullivan having hot sex with some other Lucky lady this time (preferably me LOL)!!!

Im with you on that. Interviewed him for Strike Back. Real fun guy. The show`s quality it`s goes even further than expected of the show, so does Stapleton`s acting.

Anonymous • on Mar 12, 2014 9:59 am

Ditto.

Katie D • on Mar 12, 2014 12:52 pm

Love, love, love him on that show!

Jennifer Patterson • on Mar 12, 2014 9:39 am

Everyone should watch Animal Kingdom. One of the first things he did that became known outside of Australia. Good stuff!

Artemisia • on Mar 12, 2014 9:48 am

No shade to Sullivan Stapleton who I think is great in Strike Back but the real talent that shined in this campy movie is Eva Green. She IS the next leading lady. I hope she gets better roles and gets casted in less femme fatale roles. The woman has range and the star power in her. I haven’t read a negative review on her turn as Artemisia.

youshouldsee • on Mar 12, 2014 12:30 pm

If you haven’t seen it, the director’s cut of Kingdom of Heaven is great and Eva Green is terrific in it. The version the studio released first was a mess and Orlando Bloom is maybe not up to the job as the hero but Eva Green does great work, as do Liam Neeson, Michael Sheen, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, Ed Norton and a number of great Moroccan and Middle-Eastern actors mostly unknown here. Movie was caught up in Iraq war drum-banging politics (a movie about the crusades was a hard sell just then) and suffered because of the failures of Troy and Alexander, two sword & sandal dogs. But the director’s cut version merits inclusion with Ridley Scott’s best and Eva Green was a revelation.

Artemisia • on Mar 12, 2014 10:44 pm

Yes of course I have seen it. I’ve been following her career since I saw her in a play in Paris in 2002 (if I remember correctly). I agree with you that she’s terrific in Kingdom of Heaven. Have you seen Cracks? She’s brilliant in it.

Jones • on Mar 12, 2014 9:49 am

As an Australian film fan, I’m always pleased when an Australian actor gets his or her big break in a hollywood production. But let’s get real here, who honestly walks out of the 300 sequel knowing or caring who he is? You remember one actor and one actor only. That actor is Eva Green and for good reason because she creates an insane and terrifying force of nature who singlehandedly makes that movie worth watching.

Artemisia • on Mar 12, 2014 9:55 am

No shade to Sullivan Stapleton who I think is great in Strike Back but the real talent that shined in this campy movie is Eva Green. She IS the next leading lady. I hope she gets better roles and gets casted in less femme fatale roles. The woman has range and the star power in her. I haven’t read a negative review on her turn as Artemisia. Sullivan meanwhile, will have to get a more serious role wherein he will shine.

Exactly what I came here to say. I haven’t seen 300 but every single person I know who went to it raved about Eva Green and nothing else but Eva Green. I’d be surprised if more than 5% of the audience could even name Stapleton. Eva Green should be a star and the ridiculous focus on male leads who offer little to nothing and giving them a shot is the main thing holding her back.

Artemisia • on Mar 12, 2014 10:52 pm

I have followed her career for a long time already and she is not the kind of actress who wants to be a “star”. She has always been a great actress but part of the reason why she’s only starting to be known is also partly her choice. She has continuously chosen to do smaller films (a few blockbusters here and there) which sadly doesn’t get a lot of audiences. I hope her good reviews in 300: Rise of an Empire gets casting directors and studios to notice her.

jennie • on Mar 12, 2014 11:41 am

Agreed . Why isn’t their a headline story about Eva Green being the next leading lady ( Lena Headey is also pretty wonderful . ) ? This is so sexist , especially , when she received most of the rave reviews.

To be fair , I adore Sullivan Stapleton’s work in Animal Kingdom and Strike Back . His presence and star power is to die for , and he is not a bad actor . I definitely see him being the next leading man. Most Aussie actors are well known for their manliness , strong work ethic , self-discipline , and a easy going nature . And, more importantly , they value acting talent over media attention .

WhateverMan • on Mar 12, 2014 10:02 am

Hollywood has killed the Man’s Man with these willowy, whiny millennial Abercrombie clone wusses they are pushing. or the oddly-shaped smart Alec with no soul, original lines or delivery (paging Chris Pine!). No wonder we have to go to Oz to find someone who looks convincing whole holding a knife.
Go, Sully. I’ll be in line.

You got to be kidding me! He was the worst thing about that movie. He had no presence and his voice was weaker than water.

lmno • on Mar 12, 2014 12:51 pm

Which movie did you see? Stapleton is badass.

Pati • on Mar 12, 2014 10:37 am

Saw the movie last night and loved it, there will be a sequel for sure. Sullivan Stapleton is great I love him on Strike Back, it is my favorite show, sad it’s the last season.

Chris • on Mar 12, 2014 10:49 am

This years Sam Worthington.

JWC • on Mar 12, 2014 11:11 am

No way. This dude has a personality. And a sense of humor. And is interesting.

kk • on Mar 12, 2014 11:06 am

A guy’s guy, movie star? Who would have thought? More please!

Cheri E. from CA • on Mar 12, 2014 12:32 pm

I am so happy to hear Sully is home, no one can take care of you like Mom can! I have been following him since McLeod’s Daughters (just a fan not a stalker), one of the shows from down under that they showed here in the states, & about did back flips when I found out he was going to be on Strike Back! Sully is a man with hair on his chest & a lust for life, gotta love that! Going to see 300 this weekend, & I know I will not be disappointed cuz Sully never disappoints me! Take care & listen to your Mom! Big Hug!

When is Philip Winchester going to get his due? He is as good as (if not better) than Stapleton with great turns in Strike Back, Camelot, etc.

BrandiAZ • on Mar 12, 2014 4:10 pm

I love Strike Back and Sully, but I do wonder when Philip Winchester will break out as well. I actually prefer the character of Michael Stonebridge to Damian Scott. Sully is fortunate in that Scott is the flashier role, while Stonebridge plays the “straight man.”

Brent • on Mar 12, 2014 4:36 pm

Met Sully at a bar and I honestly thought my girlfriend was going to go home with him, but he was so chill that I was okay with it. If that’s not a movie star, I don’t know what is.

miles • on Mar 12, 2014 4:36 pm

Oh no , not another Aussie actor. We don’ t get enough of those here in the USA. Same with the BRITs

Abba • on Mar 12, 2014 6:12 pm

Sorry but no, Butler did it much better and Green acted him right off the screen. She owned this movie, no matter how many times they tried to focus on him, he just did not inspire. Now Green’s character did inspire an audience and I think you even wanted her to win in some twisted way.I really kept waiting for her to reveal a couple of hidden daggers and stab him in the end.

Ray H • on Mar 12, 2014 6:54 pm

Thank you, Deadline, for investigating the real story that’s been on my mind for the past few weeks, which was what the hell happened to Sullivan Stapleton in Thailand? The previous reports have all been so strangely vague. I love Sullivan on Strike Back and am really happy to hear he’s doing well. Also happy to see his 300 film getting him attention. I thought he was solid in it, but the part could’ve used better writing.

Rollo Tomasi • on Mar 13, 2014 6:11 am

Neeeever heard of him. But I’ll still give 300 p.2 a look when it eventually gets released on disc.

cappy • on Mar 13, 2014 10:25 am

I was excited to see this film, but not because of the actors, for the overall filmmaking. Loved the first one. Sullivan is ok, but if anyone standouts, it’s Eva Green by far.

June Myers • on Mar 15, 2014 11:57 am

Love sullivan stapleton. He’s so good on strike back. Sorry to see it is ending.